We love, love, love our homes in Los Angeles, and that affection has only grown stronger during the months of social distancing. “The year we have come out of informs where our interior design is at now,” says Los Angeles-based designer Jamie King of JLK Interiors. “The way we are now living in our homes has completely changed because of the pandemic, and it’s the reason our designers and contractors are so busy they can’t even see straight.” From making major refreshes to exploring decorating styles we learn about on TikTok, we’re always wanting to improve our crib. So we caught our favorite design talents between client meetings and project management visits and got them to tell us what’s fabulous right now.
9 Decorating Trends Everyone in Los Angeles is Obsessed With
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1. outdoor Offices
“Because we live in SoCal, we can use the outdoors, so let’s do a seating area with a great backdrop in case the kids are too loud,” says King. “I just did a space for a bigwig for Netflix and he’s got three kids who are virtual schooling,” she says. “So we created a custom sectional in a big outdoor space, boosted the WiFi, created a beautiful backdrop and even installed a flatscreen TV so he can mirror his Mac on it. Now every time he’s on a Zoom call, people ask ‘Are you on vacation?’”
2. Rattan
"Rattan is extremely popular right now, and it can be incorporated into a wide variety of interior styles,” says Tarzana-based designer Lindsay Pennington. “Because it's lightweight and airy, rattan adds a playful vibe to any space. Adding a rattan framed mirror or an accent table is a simple and fresh update, while choosing bigger pieces like sofas and chairs in rattan makes a bigger, beachier statement.” BlueGrape Staging director Pramiti Bhargava sees the trend as a sign of the times: “With a year of staying home, the warmth and natural texture of rattan has a special allure to many homeowners. It seems pure and natural, something we all aspire for.”
3. “spanifornia”
Hermosa Beach-based Kate Lester uses this term to describe traditional dark, ornamented architecture and décor that’s mixed with modern, light and beachy pieces and textiles. “The ‘Spanifornia’ trend is booming right now in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas,” she says. “It's the perfect mix of updated California with a twist of Spanish style.”
4. Oversized Pieces
Shelby Girard, VP of Creative and Design at Havenly, sees Southern Californians super-sizing their design: “My clients have been embracing a minimalist attitude that focuses on fewer, more important pieces. From deep, oversized sofas with plush lounge-worthy cushions and enveloping canopy beds, to massive artwork, I’m sourcing distinctive elements that really stand on their own and make the space.”
5. Soft Earth Tones
“For years, every other social media post featured a little or a lot of ‘millennial pink,’ and now I'm also seeing richer, more natural tones pop up, like terracotta and mauve,” Pennington says. “Since those can be challenging colors to paint a whole wall, I recommend starting out with small doses in bed linens, sofa cushions or drinking glasses.”
6. Kitchen Desks
King says that her clients want more of a permanent working space. “It doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a dedicated room or home office, it means a space that the client can work from. Coming back in our kitchen design is desks,” she says. “It used to be a given, a big desk space in a luxurious kitchen, then people just moved to the island, where they’d have a USB port. Now they crave a desk with drawers and a place to put their files.”
7. Textural Moments
Organic and natural materials like mohair, velvet, sheepskin, bouclé, leather or linen are all part of the modern California home, says designer Jenni Kayne. “A timeless palette grounded in neutrals gives way to endless possibilities,” she says. “Whether it’s vintage leather chair, a sheepskin draped over a bench, or a trendless bouclé accent, a simple textural moment will instantly make your space feel like home.”
8. Pops Of Color
According to Bhargava, “gone are the days of sterile white homes. We are seeing more and more color being incorporated into homes in LA and love the personality it can bring to a space. Homeowners love an exciting colored element which stands for the fun of life.”
9. Curved Furniture
“Curved furnishings have been making a comeback for a few years now,” Pennington says, “and they definitely have a place in any laid-back California aesthetic,” she says. “I love it when curves are incorporated in an unexpected way such as in a table base rather than its top, or in cabinetry rather than seating.”